Chapter 20 The Old Fire Pit

That was the first mysterious tradition related to protection that he encountered after coming to this world.

Now that he had entered the doorway, learned the skills, and traveled in this world, although he always carried pit ash with him, he no longer relied on this bag of pit ash to bring him protection. Unexpectedly, after all this time, he suddenly discovered the mystery of the old fire pit.

Following this thought, countless images flashed back before his eyes.

Grandma was very capable, but after she brought him back to life, the first thing she did was take him to worship the old fire pit, almost arranging a ghost wife for him in the process.

Later, when the Meng family pressed him hard, she would rather he enter the old fire pit than help him obtain that protection.

Was it because the old fire pit of Doyang Village was so powerful, so powerful that even Grandma, with all her abilities, believed that he could only survive if he obtained the old fire pit from that small place?

Or was it that Grandma didn't care about the old fire pit of Doyang Village, but rather, the existence of something like the old fire pit itself?

For some time now, he had been committed to learning the methods of the Shou Sui Ren (Year Watcher), in order to bring himself back to life.

But Grandma's arrangements might have always been within the realm of the Guiren (Ghost Courier)...

Because someone had pointed out this line of thought, although Hu Ma still couldn't understand the relationship between these things, he felt like he had suddenly grasped the correct direction.

"You just said you wanted to get rid of some Five Fiends, were you serious?"

Hu Ma casually said, "It's just that the matter is indeed a bit big, and I have to think about it carefully."

You just said you'd contact me in two years!

"No, this matter sounds scary, but I thought about it carefully..."

After a long silence, Hu Ma sighed softly. In fact, Er Guotou (Double Distilled Liquor) hadn't given him a clear answer.

"Wait."

Er Guotou paused, as if he had made up his mind, and said, "Then, if you really want to do this, remember to tell me."

But after hearing what he said today, Hu Ma suddenly had a vague feeling that he had perceived something. Guiren (Ghost Courier), Zhen Sui Shu (Year Suppressing Book), altar building, incantations, guarding the soul, the old fire pit...

And while Hu Ma's thoughts were suddenly opening up, Er Guotou, who was also caught in silence and entanglement, suddenly said, "That..."

"Although she only just gained the qualifications to ascend to the hall, she'll improve sooner or later, right?"

With this direction, he would have a bit more confidence when he stepped over that threshold.

"Fuck!"

Brother Er Guotou also seemed a little embarrassed, and chuckled, "It seems like it's just a matter of time anyway. The seats in the hall are limited, and the Five Fiends are close to us. If we don't get rid of them, Little Red Lantern can only be in..."

""

"Maybe this answer is enough."

He understood. In that place, there was an answer.

"You're serious?"

This question surprised Hu Ma. "Huh?"

""

"Alright then."

He himself was confused, afraid because he couldn't see through it.

These words really bewildered Hu Ma.

A transmigrator is a transmigrator. Even if they seem cautious, once they have an idea, they'll play wild.

"Oh dear, I can only say these things to you. Miss White Wine is too cautious, and Little Sister Sweet Potato Liquor is too reckless."

Er Guotou sighed helplessly and said, "To be honest, do you think I'm really satisfied just entering the government? If I was really satisfied, I wouldn't have gone to the Fox Coffin Village in the old Yin Mountains back then."

"It's not that I don't want to improve, it's just that the Guiren (Ghost Courier) path is too chaotic, the water is too deep. I always feel that if I go any further, I'll be targeted, so I've actually been thinking about finding a way to avoid being targeted, and then find a chance to cross the bridge."

"In simple terms."

He paused before explaining, "I always feel like the Guiren (Ghost Courier) path is like a wealthy landlord whose family isn't home."

"So, I also want to take advantage of the landlord's absence and steal something."

""

At this moment, Hu Ma was struck by lightning. In front of the incense burner in his own natal spirit temple, he subconsciously opened his mouth wide, wanting to say something, but couldn't.

No.

Has Brother Er Guotou ever considered that the wealthy landlord you're talking about is me?

You can say these words to anyone, but saying them to me makes things seem not quite right.

But although he felt uncomfortable, he still held it back.

He reluctantly agreed to Er Guotou that he would definitely consult with him when he took action, and then sighed and withdrew from his natal spirit temple.

He slept for a while, and it was already dawn.

The accumulation of this trip, as well as the conversation with Brother Er Guotou at the end, also made many things that had been piling up in Hu Ma's heart, things he couldn't figure out, suddenly become clear.

He washed his face, used green salt to clean his mouth, put on his long gown, left the inner courtyard, and saw that the workers in the manor were all busy in an orderly manner. Li Wa Zi was also drawing water, preparing to cook, so he came to the door of the kitchen.

"Wa Zi, tell Seventh Grandma that tomorrow night, I'll set up a banquet to invite her."

""

Li Wa Zi was surprised to hear this. Invite Seventh Grandma?

Brother Ma Zi had been gone for almost two months, why did he want to invite her as soon as he came back?

He didn't know the reason, but he hurriedly agreed. Hu Ma returned to the inner courtyard, thinking about how to set up the banquet.

Two months ago, he had promised Seventh Grandma that he would give her an answer.

Now, counting the time, it was almost enough. The preparations he should have made had already been done, and it was time to give her an account.

Most importantly, he had a foundation now.

It was indeed time to take advantage of something to open the door of the Zhen Sui Shu (Year Suppressing Book), and open a crack to take a look.

To see the secrets within the Zhen Sui Shu (Year Suppressing Book), and to see how much wealth the Hu family, this wealthy landlord, had left behind.

Of course, even if everything was ready except for the east wind, he should still be careful.

Hu Ma first made good preparations, having Li Wa Zi prepare incense, flowers, lamps, wine, and fruit, and prepared the Eight Immortals table. He also warned the workers to hide in their rooms when he set up this banquet, and no one was allowed to come out to watch.

After instructing these things, he rode his horse to the old Yin Mountains. He lit three incense sticks and prayed in the mountains.

After silently reciting the request for the Mountain Lord to descend three times, he quietly explained his plans.

When he opened his eyes, he didn't see the old tree stump.

Hu Ma knew in his heart that if he was in trouble, and he asked Senior Old Tree Stump, he would naturally come. But now he was making a decision, a decision about the Hu family's affairs, and he would avoid suspicion.

However, when he looked down at the three incense sticks burning in front of him, the left and right were level, and the middle was one finger lower.

His mood suddenly relaxed.

Senior Old Tree Stump avoided suspicion and didn't come to see him, nor did he discuss it with him, but the way the incense burned could still represent the attitude of his old self.

Superior auspicious sign.

This meant that he supported all of his current decisions.

"Thank you, Senior."

Hu Ma stood up and silently said, "But there are still some other things I need Senior to help with."

As he spoke, he broke off a few branches from beside the burning incense and took them with him.

When he returned to the manor, he patiently sorted out these branches, first weaving a skeleton, then tearing off some rice straw and weaving it into the shape of two straw men, then covering their faces with white paper and standing them against the wall to wait.

A day passed, and the preparations in the manor were almost complete. Li Wa Zi also said that he had told Seventh Grandma.

Counting the days, it was exactly two months.

Hu Ma was relieved and personally directed how to prepare for this banquet.

In the evening, near dusk, he first had the workers in the manor eat, patrol the night, and go back to sleep early. Even the red lanterns at the entrance of the manor were taken down. He sat in the courtyard, at the end of the Eight Immortals table.

Because it was a banquet to invite Seventh Grandma, he didn't prepare the usual ordinary dishes for inviting guests.

Three incense sticks were burned in the middle, two candles were lit at both ends of the table, and in the middle were flowers, fruits, a pot of burning liquor, and two cups.

Logically speaking, these were enough, but considering that he was inviting Seventh Grandma, he had someone prepare two live roosters with large crowns, and a pot of brown sugar eggs.

Hu Ma sat on a chair, but the chair opposite him was empty. He waited patiently. The two straw men he had woven earlier stood to the left and right, like guards.

As the night deepened, a cold wind blew in gusts. The candle flame on the table suddenly flickered slightly, as if a candle flower had burst out.

He looked up and heard a creak from beside him. Li Wa Zi, groggy, pushed open the door of the kitchen and walked out. His eyes rolled around, wanting to speak, but Hu Ma suddenly interrupted him with a smile and said,

"Seventh Grandma, we're inviting you, you have to come over."

""

Li Wa Zi was confused for a while, then suddenly got up, walked back into the kitchen, and closed the door.

But from the corner of the wall next to him, there was a rustling sound. A yellow shadow flashed, and a weasel with pointed whiskers ran over. It jumped onto the chair, and then jumped onto the table, restless.

It looked at the pot of brown sugar eggs, seeming a little greedy.

But after hesitating for a moment, it jumped back onto the chair, with its two small paws clinging to the edge of the table.

Its round eyes just stared at Hu Ma, seeming a little puzzled.

Hu Ma just smiled and looked at it, not knowing if this confused little thing had forgotten what had happened before.

But at this moment, he couldn't remind it.

Seventh Grandma, seeing Hu Ma sitting opposite her, smiling without saying a word, vaguely felt that the young shopkeeper today was different from before, giving her a bit of pressure. And this bit of pressure made her think about what she had been doing lately.

Suddenly, she remembered, and scurried down from the chair, picking up a straw hat from the side of the wall.

She swayed and jumped onto the chair, and actually spoke, in a shrill voice, "Little Shopkeeper, do you think I look like a human?"

Hu Ma smiled, then looked at it seriously and said, "Seventh Grandma, if you abide by the rules of humans, then you are human."

"If you commit evil deeds, then you are a demon, and you will be punished."

""

It was just a light conversation, without casting spells, chanting incantations, or building an altar.

Seventh Grandma listened, but suddenly froze.

Chapter End